Coastline profiles of Banda and nearby islands

The Gelderland, Wachter and Duyfken of the Moluccan fleet of the Fifth Expedition arrived at Ternate on 17 February 1602. The Dutch were welcomed and found their countrymen that had been left behind during the Second Expedition in good conditions. Unfortunately for the expedition under Wolfert Harmensz., the harvests on Ternate had been meagre and there was little trade to be had. On 7 March the ships again departed from Ternate to sail to the Banda archipelago. They stayed there from 14 March to 24 June Here trade was much more favourable. The Dutch made several deals and treaties with local rulers while filling up their ships with the coveted nutmeg.

Joris Joostensz. Laerle, artist on board of the Gelderland, is seen as the most likely author of these coastline profile of Banda and nearby islands in the journal of the Gelderland. The top text indicates that the drawings depict Banda. The texts at the middle panel are “Poelecatan”, referring to a nearby island, and “Another depiction of Banda. Ghonen Apij”. The latter refers to the volcano (Gunung Api) of the island Banda Api. The bottom panel shows the smaller islands Pulau Ai and Pulau Run.